Introduction of the Course

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient required by plants, being an essential component of all amino acids and nucleic acids.  Atmosphere consists of 78% nitrogen gas (N2) but plants are unable to use this form of nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation is one alternative to nitrogen fertilizer. It is carried out by prokaryotes using an enzyme complex called nitrogenase and results in atmospheric N2 being reduced into a form of nitrogen diazotrophic organisms and plants are able to use (ammonia). This course is to teach students the scope and mechanism of biological nitrogen fixation. It will cover all aspects of BNF including the factors which enhance and limits this universal process. This course focuses the importance of legumes crop in nitrogen fixing.

Objective

The aim of the course is to teach students the scope and mechanism of biological nitrogen fixation. It will cover all aspects of BNF including the factors which enhance and limits this universal process. This course will enable students to learn and practically perform seed inoculation and observe its functioning

Theory

1. Importance of nitrogen
2. Nitrogen cycle; Assimilation of nitrate and ammonium ions;
3. Nitrogen fixation; Biological nitrogen fixation, its potentialities, perspectives and limitations
4. BNF in a symbiotic and non-symbiotic association in legumes and non-legumes, stages in nodulation
5.  Nitrogenase: structure and function
6.  Mechanism and biochemistry of BNF
7.  Gaseous exchange in nodules
8.  Role of leghemoglobin
9.  Effect of environment on  nitrogen fixation
10.  Stem nodules
11.  Prospects for making new symbiosis
12.  Physiological limitations and genetic improvements of biological nitrogen fixation
13.  Possibilities of engineering non- legume plants for nitrogen fixation

Practical

• Preparation of quality inoculums.
• Legume inoculant and inoculation techniques.
• Soil and seed inoculation methods.
• Methods of measuring nitrogen fixation.
• Study of different types of nodules

Outcomes

1. Understand the symbiotic and asymbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms useful for BNF.
2. Learn the mechanism of biological nitrogen fixation.
3.  Recognize edaphic, climatic and biotic factors limiting biological nitrogen fixation.
4. Estimate BNF by two simple methods.
5.  Implement major approaches to enhance biological nitrogen fixation.

Assessment

Quizzes and test:                                 02

Attendance:                                        02

Assignments and presentations:          04

Mid-term:                                            12

End term:                                            20

Practical:                                             20

Books Recommended

1. John L.H., J.D. Beaton, S.L. Tisdale, and W.L. Nelson. 2010. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers-An introduction to nutrient management, 7th edition. Pearson Prentice Hall, New Delhi, India.
2. Ross, C.W. and F.B. Salisburry. 2011. Plant Physiology 5th Ed., Wadsworth Publ. Co., Belmont, California, USA.
3. Ohyama, T., 2014. Advances in Biology and Ecology of Nitrogen Fixation Publisher: In Tech, Chapters published January 29, 2014 under CC BY 3.0 license.
4. Taize, L. and E. Zeiger. 2002. Plant Physiology 3rd ed. Sinauers Associate, Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA.
5. Yi- Peng W., M. Lee, T. Zhe- Xian, W.E. Newton. Eds. 2005. Biological Nitrogen Fixation, sustainable agriculture and the environment. Proc. 14th Int. Congress Biological Nitrogen Fixation. Springer, Netherlands.
6. Flores, F.G. 2008. The cyanobacteria: molecular biology, genomics, and evolution. A. Herrero (Ed.). Horizon Scientific Press.

Time Table

Tuesday 8:50

Wednesday 12:10

Thursday 9:40

KEY DATES

Commencement of semester: February 22, 2021 (Monday)

Mid test: April 19 to 23, 2021 (Monday to Friday)

Final Examination:  June 21 to 25, 2021 (Monday to Friday)

Result Declaration: July 02, 2021 (Friday)